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Mission to Haiti recieves more than a ‘Little’ help

By Patricia Lait
Citizen Journalist

Helen Little first got involved with Mission to Haiti more than 20 years ago when her church, Horne Memorial United Methodist Church, took her on a trip to the Caribbean country. There she saw firsthand the extreme hunger and homelessness that plagued the Haitians and was moved to action.

United Methodist Women President Betty Jo Creed presents seeds to Helen Little to take to the Haitian communities, which are struggling with hunger and homelessness. PATRICIA LAIT, GCNT

Now through Mission to Haiti, an organization that funds the education and basic needs of Haitian children and families, Little engages communities and speaks at churches. Through the years her efforts have yielded the Ryan Epps Children’s Home in Haiti, which houses 10 children in need of food, clothing and education.

“Don’t worry about AIDS,” Little said. “Worry about lack of food. These children are orphaned because their parents literally starve to death. They will sleep on the ground all their lives, and that’s not right.”

Little’s fervor has motivated countless others to get involved.

“While most of us are enjoying a second cup of coffee on Saturday mornings, she is out shopping at yard sales in search of clothing and shoes for the Haitian children,” said Betty Jo Creed, president of United Methodist Women, which has provided supplies for Mission to Haiti.

Garner residents aid Haitians

Along with UMW, Garner United Methodist Church and the James Auman Sunday School Class have partnered with Little to support Mission to Haiti.

In May UMW and the Sunday school class presented Little with items they recently collected or made, such as shoes, clothes for school-age children, personal hygiene products and school supplies. The items will be shipped to Haiti.

Members of the Sunday school class also committed to sponsoring Haitian children to pay their education costs.

Making a difference in Haiti

The Haitians were hit hard by four hurricanes that swept across the island last summer. Shacks were destroyed, and the rice fields were flooded. Once again Little knew she had to do something.

“There are no social services, no Salvation Army, no food stamps,” Little said. “The people have nothing unless the community helps.” So she went to Garner and Clayton and collected 40 pounds of various fruit and vegetable seeds from local businesses.

“One suitcase filled with seeds put 15 men to work planting, irrigating and harvesting. This was a practical way to help them help themselves,” Little said.

Little will make her 45th trip to Haiti in July to check on the status of her second orphanage, which is currently under construction. While there she will work with a medical team to administer health care to the children. She will also participate in distributing gifts, goats and chickens to sponsored children and families.

“The future of Haiti depends on these children as tomorrow’s leaders,” said Creed, who has adopted a child through the organization’s sponsorship program. “To think … for $30 a month, you can sponsor a child that might be the one who turns things around so that the people of Haiti aren’t impoverished.”

“Education is key,” Little said. “Uniforms are required at the schools in Haiti, but with families struggling to buy food, they can’t buy uniforms.” Sponsorships pay for tuition, books, uniforms and lunch, so a child can attend school.

Little has already picked up nine sponsorships over the last few weeks alone.

“We are empowering the next generation when we go,” she said.

Here’s how you can help with Mission to Haiti:

1.      Visit missiontohaiti.org

2.      Sponsor a child

3.      Join a missions team

4.      Donate food, clothes or basic supplies

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